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[So it's been almost a month. A lot has happened in that time, most of which Asch would much rather have avoided. But there's little helping that; it's common knowledge that life will kick you around even when you're already down, and he's used to it by now. Luceti has made him complacent over time, and this past month has been a very rude awakening. It's time to move on and stop pretending he's someone else.

So with the mask of dismissal very carefully reconstructed and back on his face where it belongs, as soon as the village starts to quiet down and the effects of the experiment fading, Asch returns from the mountain at last. His first trip is to the shop to leave his camping gear there, not wanting to carry it all the way back to the house. Instead he finds a crate and takes it to Good Spirits, raiding the back room (whether the bartender of the night likes it or not) and grabs a few bottles of the very strongest liquor. It probably looks like he's going on a drinking binge, and after all that's happened, who could blame him?

But no. Next stop is House 5, to come home for what he's decided will be the last time. He heads inside, calling out as he deposits the alcohol on the kitchen table-]

Hey, replica! We're leaving, let's go.

[After that it's time for packing. Then moving to a community building- the closest one, a safe distance but not too far, either. There's very little that he wants to keep, after all. Finally, a comment left in the journal this evening, to avoid a crowd-]

House 5 will be gone tonight. Don't interfere.

[And true to his word, thanks to well-placed tinder, matches, and a crate of hard liquor, House 5 will be a raging inferno around sunset this evening, with Asch, Luke, and Star the cheagle watching it burn to the ground.

Feel free to bother him at any time during all of this, if it tickles your fancy!]

Comments

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[chiisaichou.livejournal.com]

I don't? [Likewise, Miyabi knows there was sarcasm, and a bit of a bite to her own words, but it's mainly from the irritation of what she remembers each time someone she knew left. Three times she could easily remember, though there were many more. Kushi, Ammy...and Issun from back home.]

What do you think I wanted to do when Amaterasu went home? Without a word to me. [It doesn't matter that she can't speak. There are other ways to communicate and Miya knows it.] Then Kushi, without a word. I didn't find out until weeks after...that I was the only one left from my homeland. Both the sight of the mill and the cheery tree made me sick for a little while, actually. I even wanted to cut the tree down.

[And gods, did that thought disgust her, even now. How would Ammy feel if she came back and her tree was gone, because her friend cut it down? She didn't want to think about that, nor of her two friends leaving. Miyabi could feel tears in her eyes and turned away, pursing her lips to try and push the breathlessness away.]

...I said I wouldn't stay long. I'm sorry for intruding, but thank you for letting me see you again. I-It was nice.

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[Asch doesn't respond; did she come here just to judge him, to look down on him for what he chose to do to the house? Does she think that just because a loved one went home, her situation and his were the same? It's not- it's still not. To spend years loving someone, and to have it end like that- that mutual cruelty, that favouritism, that hatred- how could that be the same? What did she expect when she came over here? Smiles and relief and thanks?

At least she knows her friends loved her before they left. At least she can go back and see them again. This was the only chance he had, and now it's over.

And Guy still hated him before he left. Everything he thought had changed... hadn't. It's not the same at all.

He doubts her last comments are sincere, but he merely turns away, remaining silent. He's weary enough to not want to argue about it right now.]

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[chiisaichou.livejournal.com]

[So many things she doesn't know, perhaps never will, but she'd never judge. Judging someone is petty and cruel, and Miyabi would rather avoid it if she could. Though sh is beginning to think her visit was more than just wanting to see him again. Maybe to try and comfort him a little - which she failed at - or to try and get Asch to understand that he wasn't as alone as he thought.

Ah, she doesn't know, but she did enjoy seeing Asch again, even with the weight of somberness hanging over them. It was just nice to know he was still here. That's enough, right?

Miyabi wipes at the corners of her eyes and looks back at her friend, then just goes. She wanted to speak with Luke a little, too, but she's imposed on their generosity for long enough. It's best to not linger any more.]